There is a lot more though, to this day!

​You can find a free cup of coffee in many places around the US.  This includes Dunkin' Donuts, Cinnabon, Krispy Kreme, Tim Hortons, and Pilot Flying J (located often along freeways). 

Our bank serves free coffee every day to customers, and Home Depot services free coffee every day to contractors (but they do not actually check).
 
We feel that the best way to celebrate this day, is to go out and find a local coffee roaster; get some fresh roasted beans, and brew a pot at home - that will be the best cup of coffee you will have all week.  Another way to celebrate this day is try a new kind of coffee.  Go to your local coffeeshop and try something new!   We recently started drinking a double espresso with just a splash of creme; its very good, has some natural sugar - and no added sugar.  People who have never had Espresso might be surprised by how good this is, especially if its made from fresh roasted beans, and if you drink with an open mind.

These National Coffee Days were partly intended to promote Fair Trade practices, to raise awareness of the economic plight of coffee farmers around the world.  So you can help - go out and buy some beans that are Fair Trade.  There is a similar movement called Direct Trade that aims to get an even higher wage for coffee farmers.

Coffee production is being affected by global warming.  This is a serious issue, it will be one more way that farmers are impacted, and it will also raise prices.   We all need to be aware of Climate Change, and to do what we can do slow it down.  Shade Grown Coffees are a great choice as it helps farmers - and helps forests.  You can contact your political leaders to ask for more to be done about Climate Change.
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The Rainforest Alliance is based on the premise that healthy land makes for health and profitable farming, sustainable practices, and preserve biodiversity. They achieve this not only through certification programs, but also working to educate farmers.  You can go to their site, and find more shade grown coffees here.  This is one of their videos - its entertaining and inspiring:
  

  
RA (Rainforest Alliance) works with farmers, forestry companies, and tourism businesses to keep forests healthy, and conserve resources.  To get be RA certified, rigorous standards must be met.  Once certified you are part of a global community of people who all believe in protecting forests and those who work in them.  This certificate is called, the Green Frog Seal.

The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal is an internationally recognized symbol of environmental, social and economic sustainability that helps both businesses and consumers do their part to ensure a brighter future for us all.

In addition, world-wide demand for coffee is expected to rise, so farmers will be trying to grow even more crops.  This puts pressure on the Shade Grown method of farming; because the full-sun, open-field style of farming can produce more beans per acre - but it involves less sustainable practices.

Coffee is one of the leading agricultural products - so the effects of Climate Change on coffee can indicate what is happening in general to agriculture.  Some coffee-producing countries are more at risk for Climate Change affects than others; these include Brasil, Vietnam, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

These changes to the coffee industry run the risk of raising the poverty level.   Almost 3/4 of the worlds coffee is produced by the small, family farms.  The coffee farmer will need education and improved agricultural practices to deal with the affects of Climate Change and the greater weather variability.

You can help by buying more Fair Trade coffees, which more directly compensates the small farmer.

Also, you can learn more about Climate Change at ManMadeClimateChange.com